Beret knitting pattern

For Renee, who wanted to knit a beret.

This pattern makes a beautifully-shaped adult sized-beret. It's adapted from an early 1950s booklet, Berets for All. The beret in the book includes a fairisle motif, which I have removed from the pattern, so you get a simple, plain-coloured beret with elegant shaping.

You'll need: DK yarn, 1 pair each nos 10 and 11 knitting needles (3 mm and 3.25 mm needles)

Tension: 13 sts and 17 rows to 2 inches

Abbreviations: tbs = through back of stitch

With no 10 needles, cast on 120 sts. Change to no 11 needles and work 6 rows in K1, P1 rib.

Change back to no 10 needles and proceed as follows:

Row 1: (K3, inc in next st) to end
Row 2: P
Row 3: (inc in first st, K23, inc in next st) 6 times
Row 4: P
Row 5: (inc in first st, K 25, inc in next st) 6 times
Row 6: P
Row 7: (inc in first st, K 27, inc in next st) 6 times

Starting with a P row, work 7 rows in stocking stitch on these 186 sts.

Row 15: (K2 tog tbs, K 27, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 16: P
Row 17: K
Row 18: P
Row 19: (K2 tog tbs, K 25, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 20: P
Row 21: K
Row 22: P
Row 23: (K2 tog tbs, K 23, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 24: P
Row 25: K
Row 26: (P2 tog, P 21, P2 tog) 6 times
Row 27: K
Row 28: P
Row 29: (K2 tog tbs, K19, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 30: P
Row 31: (K2 tog tbs, K 17, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 32: (and every alternate row from now on) P
Row 33: (K2 tog tbs, K15, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 35: (K2 tog tbs, K13, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 37: (K2 tog tbs, K11, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 39: (K2 tog tbs, K9, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 41: (K2 tog tbs, K7, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 43: (K2 tog tbs, K5, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 45: (K2 tog tbs, K3, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 47: (K2 tog tbs, K1, K2 tog) 6 times
Row 49: (K2 tog) 9 times. Break off wool, thread end through remaining sts, draw up and fasten off, then join seam.